A playful examination of TH Labour activists rallying against their own MP, Rushanara Ali. And no, it’s not related to the death and destruction in Gaza.
Curios Incidents In Ramadan
Ramadan for Muslims is supposed to be a time of quiet contemplation and reflection for Muslims, a kind of otherworldly spiritual stock check.
Ramadan for Muslims ain’t just some serene sit-down with inner vibes; it’s like a cosmic audit of the soul. But here I am, two years out of the political circus and half a year out from waving goodbye to the Labour Party, thinking I’d be meditating, not juggling Tower Hamlets drama.
First, the Labour Party folks started blowing up my phone, but I’ve been ghosting them since I bailed last year. Then, the trolls linked to these politicos start buzzing on socials, trying to guilt-trip me into dealing with them. One nutjob, clearly on a bender, bombards me with caps-lock rants all night long.
And now, to top it off, I’m getting calls from the locals wondering why these same Labour cronies are cosying up to rival political candidates. Folks are asking, “Is this some uprising against the bigwigs over Palestine?” My take? Nah. Here’s the lowdown.
Deconstructing TH Labour practice of ‘Photo Politics’
Before delving into the question posed above, why Palestine is not the sole focus, we need to do a detour. We must examine a phenomenon within the Tower Hamlets Labour Party known as ‘Photo Politics’.
From 1994 until 2017, the Labour Party’s councillor candidates were chosen by the party leadership, bypassing the input of ordinary members. Despite this, the question remained: how could a member showcase their popularity amongst both the electorate and fellow members to the leadership? This is where ‘photo politics’ comes into play.
In this practice, ambitious activists in the Tower Hamlets Labour Party arrange photoshoots with residents or fellow activists to demonstrate their value to the party leadership. These photos are then shared on social media platforms in hopes of catching the attention of party leaders, who might then encourage the activist to apply for a councillor position.
This Ramadan, a slight deviation from the usual ‘Photo Politics’ occurred within the Tower Hamlets Labour Party. This change was influenced by the impending General Election and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank.
However, it’s crucial to note that this deviation doesn’t directly relate to Palestine or the forthcoming General Election in 2024. Instead, it pertains to the Labour Councillor selections scheduled to commence in 2025 for the 2026 local elections, as well as the Tower Hamlets Labour Party’s status as a one-party hegemon.
So what is the impact of the hegemonic status of the Tower Hamlets Labour Party over local politics?
Socialism in One Borough?: Deconstructing the One Party Status of Tower Hamlets Labour
When I initially became involved in the Tower Hamlets Labour Party back in 2016, a retired Bangladeshi Labour Councillor offered me invaluable guidance. He emphasized the importance of setting aside national political considerations and focusing solely on local dynamics, particularly the selection process for Labour councillor candidates.
Within the Tower Hamlets Labour Party, why does the local dimension hold greater significance than the national? Numerous factors contribute to this prioritisation, including substantial economic disparities and entrenched poverty. The Labour Party’s dominance in the local authority creates an environment more reminiscent of Communist China than that of a modern European Social Democracy. Similar to the Chinese Communist Party, the Tower Hamlets Labour Party is viewed as a means of economic advancement for many, with becoming a Labour Councillor Candidate often being the first step on this path.
Consequently, throughout the modern history of the East End, both the local council and the Tower Hamlets Labour Party have faced ongoing accusations of corruption. These allegations have been a recurring theme in publications like Private Eye, spanning administrations led by both Labour and Aspire. In China, the CCP has regular anti-corruption drives within its ranks to address this structural problem, however we have yet to witness such anti-corruption initiatives within Tower Hamlets or its local Labour Party.
Therefore, the stakes are high when it comes to Labour councillor selections, limitless rewards with little or no accountability.
It’s the Local Stupid, not the National Politics
Returning to the upcoming councillor selection cycle slated for 2026, there’s a prevailing understanding that member selections will be halted, and candidates will be enforced. This action stems from the accusation, albeit unfounded in my view, of mass infiltration of the Tower Hamlets Labour by the Aspire party.
Another widely acknowledged aspect is the early commencement of selections in 2025, enabling Tower Hamlets Labour to establish their candidates swiftly, challenging the current Aspire administration and aiming to reclaim the council in 2026.
Consequently, numerous TH Labour activists have introduced a novel dimension to the typical game of political optics, all focused on one Labour MP, Rushanara Ali. Given Rushanara’s proximity to the Labour leadership compared to Apsana, she holds considerable influence over the imposition of candidates.
This development has sparked a flurry of activities directed at Rushanara. From ominous warnings of electoral repercussions to orchestrated social media onslaughts by Labour activists. And even participating in the organisation of a rally outside her office by Labour members, all contributing to a sense of crisis for the incumbent MP, with the added layer of strategic visual messaging.
Playing Photo Politics with the Bodies of Dead Palestinians
Amidst the ongoing distress for the Palestinians, it’s striking that none of these Labour activists have stepped down from their membership. Could it be because they’re well aware of the prerequisite of a year’s membership to vie for a councillor candidate position in 2025? It’s plausible that the local Labour leadership is cognisant of such manoeuvres, hence no punitive action has been taken against those campaigning against the party.
Around the same time I resigned from the Labour Party in October 2023, I voiced my objection to the trend of Labour activists and councillors engaging in opportunistic photo ops over the issue of Palestine. Consequently, I was expelled from a Labour Party WhatsApp group after expressing my dissent.
Adding insult to injury, during Ramadan, we witnessed a final blow, the coup de grâce. Labour activists posing alongside a Parliamentary candidate in opposition to the local Labour MP, presumably in anticipation of receiving a call from the local Labour leadership to negotiate a deal. Given the party’s murky history, it’s likely that such deals will be brokered.
This sets the stage for a foreseeable scenario: when the General Election is called, phone calls will be made to the “Pro-Palestine” Labour activists, agreements will be reached, councillor nominations secured and Pro-Palestine Labour activists will conveniently transform into Pro-Rushanara Labour campaigners. The election results will be announced, and business as usual will be established, marking a new nadir in the cut-throat politics of Tower Hamlets Labour.
“Dulce et decorum est pro aliis pro parte mori”
“It is sweet and fitting for others (Palestinians) to die for one’s party”
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